CARLINVILLE, Illinois (Reuters) — Buyers of U.S. farmland appear undaunted by falling grain prices, paying top dollar for prime parcels coming up at autumn auctions although showing a more cautious tone than in recent years, farmland auction participants said at a sale last week. “It’s more dependent on where a farm is located than the […] Read more
Production
U.S. farmland buyers more selective but still pay for prime
Ropa Tiger brings in beets cleaner, faster
BURDETT, Alta. — Sugar beet harvesting equipment that is new to southern Alberta is providing benefits for two area farming operations and the Taber sugar factory. Forty Mile Ventures, which is operated by the Kamper Group south of Burdett, bought a Ropa Tiger Micro Topper this year that defoliates, digs and loads beets in one […] Read more
VIDEO: Matius Ruffo talks agronomy
The Mosaic Company’s worldwide agronomy manager, Matius Ruffo, was a featured presenter at InfoAg, one of North America’s premier precision agriculture conferences. WP managing editor Michael Raine caught up with Ruffo during the July 16 – 18, 2013 conference in Springfield, Illinois, and talked to him about precision ag and other key agronomy topics.
Soil scientist argues that phosphorus more plentiful than once argued
WINNIPEG — The president of the British Society of Soil Science says it’s time to stop talking about peak phosphorus because the crisis has been overstated and the issue doesn’t resonate with the public. Phil Haygarth, a soil science professor at Britain’s Lancaster University, agreed that phosphorus is a limited resource, but he said the […] Read more
Seed industry rushes to fill expected void in pedigreed inspection
Canada’s seed industry needs more time to find a new method of inspecting pedigreed seed crops across the country, says the head of the Canadian Seed Growers Association. The seed industry has just 15 months to develop a new system for ensuring that pedigreed seed crops are inspected properly. Those timelines are putting the industry […] Read more
Researchers look for way to breed neat freak bees
Much like humans who must make their bed everyday, certain bees within a colony are compelled to maintain a neat and tidy hive. While a clean home has value, having a hygienic hive can be a matter of life or death for bees because diseases can infest and destroy messy colonies. “Hygienic behaviour is typically […] Read more
Weed hunters now have an app
A new application for smart phones will allow people in British Columbia to easily report invasive weeds so that they can be identified, tracked and controlled. The Report-a-Weed app is a free download to iPhone and Android phones that allows users to submit reports of invasive plant sightings, upload photos and browse a list of […] Read more
Auger sensor signals full bin without climbing ladder
Alarmed spout | Openings allow grain overflow to give operator time to shut down once alarm sounds
BRANDON — As grain bins continue to grow higher, so too does the average age of prairie farmers. This combination compounds a situation already fraught with danger. The simple solution is to stay off the bins, and Angelika Gehrer thinks she has the answer. “A full bin alarm can pay for itself quickly by preventing […] Read moreBiomass more than wood to burn in the fireplace
Biomass is an energy resource that does not receive as much media attention as wind and solar, but it is definitely an important part of the renewable energy repertoire. Biomass is biological material derived from plants or animals that makes a sustainable and renewable energy source. It can be used directly as a fuel source […] Read more
Massey upgrades, improves
Swathers, windrowers | Biggest improvement is a V-Cool radiator system
BRANDON — The new Massey Ferguson WR series SP windrowers and swathers made their first prairie public appearance this winter. The WR is a new design, with unique features such as a rear suspension, said Willie Gilbert, a sales representative for Ag West Equipment at Portage la Prairie, Man. “The unit we have here at […] Read more
